Energy-from-Waste Facility

Covanta Harrisburg, Inc.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

The Harrisburg Resource Recovery Facility, operating as Covanta Harrisburg, Inc., is located in the capital city of the State of Pennsylvania. The facility began commercial operation in 1972 and is the oldest operating Energy-from-Waste Facility in the United States. The facility is designed to process 800 tons-per-day of solid waste, which generates up to 21.8 megawatts of renewable energy. The energy is sold to PJM Interconnect. The facility also has the capability to sell steam to the local steam district.

In addition, Covanta Harrisburg operates an on-site solid waste transfer station for municipal solid waste and construction and demolition material. Recovery of ferrous metals (steel) is also performed at the facility. In 2008, Covanta Harrisburg signed a 10 year operations and maintenance agreement with the Harrisburg Authority which included a $25.5M construction management agreement for the retrofit and upgrade of the facility.

In 2009, Covanta Harrisburg was named a Top Plant by Power Magazine, after Covanta's successful work to upgrade the facility since becoming the operator in 2007. Click here to read more about the Harrisburg Resource Recovery Facility's turnaround.

Technical Data

Facility Address: 

1670 South 19th Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104
717-939-7560

Site: 

Situated in both the City of Harrisburg and Swatara Township, Dauphin County, PA

Commercial Operation: 

September 1972

Energy-from-Waste System: 

Three 266 ton-per-day waterwall furnaces with AIREAL mass burn combustion system.

Air Pollution Control Equipment: 

Consists of all dry flue gas scrubbing system for acid gas controls, baghouse selective non-catalytic reduction system for nitrogen oxide (NOx) control, activated carbon injection for dioxin and mercury emissions control, and continuous emissions monitoring (CEM) system.

Rated Refuse Capacity: 

800 tons per day

Energy Generation @ Rated Capacity: 

Up to 21.8 megawatts from one condensing steam turbine

Sold to: 

PJM Interconnect